Thought for Today

Psalm 33:18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, . . . 22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Psalm 65:5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

This morning, we awoke to much-needed rain. Our part of New England has been in a drought for several years. Between this rainfall and my sprinkler system, I have some hope that our lawn will reawaken from dormancy and no longer resemble a dry, desolate wasteland (okay, that is a bit of hyperbole). We do truly need this rainfall.

One of the major topics on most newscasts currently is the extreme weather various areas are experiencing. As we suffer through our drought, we see news coverage of flooded streets resembling fast-flowing rivers. We see the devastation of wind-damaged trees, homes and businesses. We see and hear of the devastation of uncontrollable wildfires.

This morning, as I began my devotional readings, I first read about “Growing Hope.” (These Days, July 7, 2026) The author referenced, “Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth . . . “

Looking out the window, I do see rain. In a few months (too few!), I will again see snow. Whenever I hear or read about precipitation as a metaphor for God’s providential love and grace, however, I also remember Jesus’ warning, “Matthew 5:45 . . . for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” I suspect that I would find a certain smug, pious satisfaction were our world otherwise and God only made the sun shine and the rain fall on the righteous. Thankfully, God is greater and more gracious than my personal piety.

As I think about all of this, I recall the words of the psalmist, “Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” My help and my hope do come from our Creator God. The same God who sent Jesus, the Son (John 3:16)

Hope and help, sunshine and rainfall, all come from our Creator God and all are made available to all of God’s children. Irrespective of whether or not we believe God or even believe in God, God’s love and grace are freely offered to all.

Yesterday, I referenced “Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” A new covenant, written on our hearts. I love that verse and that truth, the truth of a new covenant. I love the promise of “Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."

I find evidence of God’s New Covenant in the Incarnation of Jesus, the Christ. I hear the evidence of God’s love and grace in the patter of the raindrops falling outside. Rainfall, sunshine hope and love all gifts from God freely offered to all. I remind myself and all who hear of the truth of God’s love and grace in the Words of Institution as we regularly celebrate the Eucharist, “These are the gifts of God for the people of God.”

The differentiation between “the righteous and on the unrighteous” is primarily between those who know what is written on our hearts and those who refuse to read the writing. It is between those who do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God and those who refuse to listen to those words written on  our hearts. It is between those who do look to the hills and to God and those who do not.

Read what is written on your heart, listen to the rainfall, trust God,

Pastor Ray